This set is part of Affinity/Orlimar's Advanced Technology package -- claiming distance off the tee from the oversized driver and fairway woods. The driver is a large 460cc (forged) with 10.5 degrees of loft. Designed with a high MOI (Moment Of Inertia), the club features their "large profile face" technology. MOI is the ability of a club to resist twisting at the point of impact -- a very good quality to have in your driver in particular.

The fairway woods are comprised of a 3-wood (at 15 degrees) and 5-wood (at 19 degrees) and, though smaller than the driver, tout the same performance technology. With two HT Hybrids (3-H and 4-H) designed to yield long, straight results, most golfers will find these hybrids far easier to hit than their long iron counterparts. All woods and hybrids are fitted with a regular flex, high-modulus graphite shaft. Rounding out the set are the HT Irons -- oversized and made in stainless steel, these were "inspired" by the very popular TaylorMade Burner Plus irons. The Affinity/Orlimar iron set has a large U-Cut cavity back and perimeter weighting -- both features that make it much easier to hit the ball higher and straighter, while still allowing some creativity and shot making.

The entire set features 11 clubs: a driver, 3-wood and 5-wood, 3H and 4H hybrids, and the 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 irons plus a pitching wedge. The woods and hybrids even come with head covers -- a nice touch. Orlimar is one of those "under the radar" club companies that, nonetheless, have a reputation for making solid, good performing equipment.

Find this Affinity HT Cadet Set:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this set on eBay:

The X-31 originally appeared in the 1950s and was of a design common to the era: a muscle back iron with smooth lines, small heads, and fitted with steel shafts, while the accompanying woods had heads of solid maple. Generally these were made as a department or sporting goods store set -- rather than something you would find at your pro shop. This was an era when Sam Snead and Patty Berg were actively designing on the Wilson Tour Staff, and their names were most often attached to a mass-market set of clubs. While the X-31 bears neither of their names, the concept is indelible, and the frequency with which these '50s-era sets or individual clubs can be found -- even today -- speaks to the thousands of sets made and sold.

Like many companies, Wilson has used the X-31 model for years, and throughout the 1970s and even into the mid 1980s it remained largely unchanged. A hard-to-hit (by today's standards) iron with a very small sweet-spot, no offset, and no cavity back or perimeter weighting. I played a similar set (Wilson Staff Tour blades) in the late 1980's and can testify that nothing feels as good as as well struck iron shot with a forged club -- and nothing feels worse than a poorly struck one. The problem for me was, far too many of the latter and not nearly enough of the former.

Wilson has recently resurrected the X-31 mark yet again, and once more applied it to their department store sets that are sold complete with irons, woods, and bag, and geared at the beginning or very casual golfer, just as they were over 60 years ago. Today's X-31 features game improvement technology such as cavity back irons, large, forgiving wood heads, and a shaft flex best suited to the beginning player.

I’m not a big fan of this set for a few reasons. It’s not any better than your basic Wal-Mart set. Most of the full sets that are out there right now are cheap and ugly. It’s designed to look like the better equipment but the materials are shoddy. I wouldn’t use these shafts in my broom.

The driver head is oversized (which is good) but the sound it makes at impact rivals nails on a chalk board. And the shaft of the driver is whippier than a riding crop.

If you want a cheap set that you only pull out once or twice a year, then by all means grab this set. However, if you are interested in getting into golf and playing this wonderful game for a lifetime, than check out the Adam’s A7 OS hybrid set. This is an awesome set for beginners (and intermediates). These hybrids let you enjoy hitting the golf ball right out of the gate and the materials and technology allows you some room to grow. You will have this set with you for a long time.

Find these clubs on eBay:

Targeted at the high handicapper, a mixed set of hybrids and irons is a great idea and there are several options now available on the market. In this set from Adams, the long irons are replaced with an easier-to-hit hybrid, and the shorter scoring clubs utilize available technology for optimum ease of use -- and ultimately greater pleasure in playing the game. Part of this technology is the progressive offset found in the 6, 7 and 8 irons, which translate to higher launch angles (and softer approaches). The 9 iron and PW are a bit more traditionally shaped and would appeal to most any player.

This set is available in right hand only but has two shaft options: either the Graffaloy ProLaunch Red 80-gram or the True Temper Players Lite Steel. Both are excellent choices, and this would simply be a personal preference of feel and confidence. Both shaft options are also available in your choice of Regular or Stiff flex.

Find this Adams A3OS Set:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this set on eBay:

The first phase is the #3, #4, and #5 hybrids. If you haven't hit a hybrid yet, man, oh man, have I got a treat for you. These clubs will become the favorite ones in your bags. They feel and look similar to woods but are much easier to hit. Just swing easy like you have an 8 or a 9 iron in your hand and you will see what I'm talking about it.

The second phase is the #6 and #7. These are cavity back irons with perimeter weighting and a hollow core. The big oversized heads have large sweet spots that will give you a little more trust that you will make contact.

The third phase is the #8, #9 and PW. They are built with a deep cavity, similar to the 6 and 7. The cavity back helps make miss hits still go towards the target.

For the money, this isn't a bad starter set. I think these irons would be good for somebody just starting out, or a golfer that has been struggling and hasn't updated to any new technology in several years.

However, for game-improving irons, my two favorites are the Adams Idea A7 OS Hybrid Iron Set and the Wilson Staff D-FY Combo 8-Piece Iron Set. Both of these sets may cost you a little more money, but I think you will use them longer than the Hippos.

Find this Hippo Progressive Iron Set:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this Hex2 on eBay:

Let's take a closer look at this set and I'll give you an honest evaluation of what you are buying. I'll begin with the big dog and work my way down to the flat stick.

The driver has a big oversized 460cc head with 13 degrees of loft. The loft is high for a driver and is designed to help beginners hit the ball in the air more easily. The huge head is to inspire confidence. Although it's fun to swing this big stick, when teeing off I'd recommend you swing your 3 wood (with 17 degrees of loft) or 5 wood (with 23 degrees of loft) or even your 7 wood (with 26 degrees of loft). That is until you get more consistent with your golf swing, then move to the big stick.

My favorite clubs in the bag are the hybrids. This set comes with a 5 hybrid, a 6 hybrid and a 7 hybrid. Hybrids make the game so much easier for beginners and slow swingers. Unfortunately, when I was picking up the game, they didn't have hybrids. (I just had a stick with a rock tied to the end of it.)

The bag is actually pretty cool too. I don't usually like the bags that come with these inclusive sets, but this one is pretty cool. Not only does it have Callaway's cool branding on it, it has an insulated beverage pocket to keep your drinks cold. This could pay for the whole set if it keeps you from spending your cash on the beer cart out on the golf course.

The only thing I don't like about the set is the putter. Putters are pretty personal, and you should spend some time picking out a good one that fills you with confidence. Think about it, you hit your putter on average about two times a hole. (That’s if you are lucky.) What’s more is this is the scoring club. There are about a million different shapes, sizes and designs. For you beginners, I would recommend a mallet style putter (like the one that comes in this set) with a big alignment aid. The mallets are a bit more forgiving than the blades and you will make more short putts.

All in all, this is a good set for those just getting into the game. This set should last you for a few years until you become obsessed (like the rest of us) and take your game to the next level. For a smaller less expensive set, check out the Solaire 9-Piece Complete Club Set.

Find this Callaway Golf Solaire Set:

• Click here to find this product on Golfsmith.com
• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this set on eBay:

The irons are very forgiving -- designed with an oversized cupface structure. Cleveland put extra weight in the toe and heel to move the center of gravity low and deep. The MOI of the irons is about as high as you will find. It is twenty-seven percent greater than a traditional iron. The face is also much bigger than traditional, giving you even more forgiveness.

The thing I like best about the set is the full hollow construction. This makes the irons very consistent through all the clubs. This with the progressive offset makes the longer clubs just as easy to hit as the shorter clubs. Visually as well, it's hard to see a big difference from one club to the next.

I recommend these clubs to all high handicappers, especially seniors. If you are like my dad and haven't bought new irons in the last ten years, you are going to be amazed at the difference.

Find this Cleveland HiBORE Iron Set:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this set on eBay:

The set is designed for people with slower swing speeds, and all the clubs are very forgiving. The eighteen-piece set comes with six irons. The irons are oversized and have a cavity back. You also get three hybrids, a 3, 4 and 5. The woods are a square 3 wood and a huge 460cc square driver.

I'm not a big fan of this set. If you must get a complete set, check out the Adams Golf A3OS 13-Piece Senior Integrated Iron Set. I like this set much better. It is made by Adams -- the market leader in hybrids -- and the quality of the equipment is better.

Finally, I'd still recommend you buy a putter and some wedges separately as well.

Find this Men's Senior Golf Club Set:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this set on eBay:

This is the same guy that walked miles and miles to school barefoot in the snow. "Uphill both ways!" he'd always say. Gramps would say about his first set of clubs, "Back when I was learning to play, we had a clubhead the size of a spoon on the end of a tree branch, and we used a rock for a golf ball."

He might be exaggerating a little, but to his point, I love these A3OS hybrids for anybody picking up or struggling with their golf game. The hybrids have what they call Boxer Hybrids. These hybrids have the highest MOI then any hybrid I've seen. The boxer shape allows them to move a tremendous amount of weight to the back and perimeter of the clubhead, making them extremely forgiving.

This set has everything you need -- including a bag and a putter. Although, as you improve, I would recommend that you buy a nicer bag and upgrade your putter to an Odyssey Putter. Of course, my grandfather... well, he used to putt with a broken broomstick.

Find this Adams Golf Iron Senior Set:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this iron set on eBay:

Orlimar is now owned by King Par, a value club company. This set of men's hybrids is priced pretty reasonably. I would recommend them for beginners and seniors for improving their game and making it more enjoyable. They are very forgiving and will help you get the ball airborne.

However, for a little bit more money, I would highly recommend the Adams Idea A7 Hybrid Set. Adams, like Orlimar, is a pioneer in their own right, launching the Tight Lies fairway woods in the mid '90s. These clubs have a superior feel and design and will give beginners some room to improve without having to go buy a brand new set of golf clubs in six months.

Find this Orlimar Hybrid Iron Set:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this iron set on eBay:

Listen up, baseball players: the shaft of these clubs were inspired by a baseball bat. Wilson makes the Demarini baseball bat, which is a high-tech bat that is used by 150 college baseball teams including the Oregon State Beavers, who won the College World Series in 2006 and 2007. (Go Beavers!)

This technology fuses the two leading materials in golf clubs today, with graphite at the top (where you grip the club, giving you a better dampened feel and lightweight for increased swing speed) fused with steel at the tip to provide stability and less twisting on off-center hits.

If you are a beginner or intermediate golfer this is good choice for you. All the technology is designed to make it easier for you to get that little white ball into the air and flying towards the target.

The 5 and 6 irons have hollow heads which make them very light, and super wide soles. The wide soles give the club more forgiveness then the traditional mid-iron.

The 7 iron through pitching wedge are cavity back featuring a perimeter weighting. This gives the club a giant sweet spot. That means you don’t have to hit the ball right in the middle of the clubface for it to fly straight and far.

In addition to the cavity back irons you also get two Wilson's Fybrids. The Fybrids are a takeoff on hybrids and are all the rage in modern golf. They look like a cross between a fairway wood and a long iron, but they are so much easier to hit then either.

The Fybrids are light and flexible and include an FY club. The FY club is 19.5 degrees and 41” in legth. These are one of the best lines of hybrids on the market. You may not get as much distance as you get with some of the other hybrids that put a premium on distance, but what you give up on distance, you gain in forgiveness.

I recommend these clubs to mid to high handicappers that are looking to take strokes off of their game immediately. This is a super, game-improving set of irons that you will be hard-pressed to find anything more advanced and innovative from a technology standpoint.

What I like best about the set is the feel. All of the clubs – when you swing them it feels like you have a graphite shaft in your hand. They are very light and easy to swing. But the steel at the bottom adds stability and consistency that you don’t get with your typical graphite shafts.

Wilson has taken the new standard in modern golf and added a twist. Watch out Adams Golf -- here comes Wilson. If you want to compare, take a look at my review of the Adams Idea A7s. The A7s may be a little less expensive less expensive, but then again, they aren't made from a baseball bat!

Find this Wilson Iron Golf Club Set:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this golf set on eBay: